I Am All of Me
Chapter 2: Aftermath
The faint whirr of the elevator descending into the G.U.N base in Central City did little to ease the pain Miles 'Tails' Prower felt over the loss of his best friend. But Tails wasn't alone, Shadow had decided to accompany him.
"I have somebody I must make amends with" Shadow replied answering Tails's query as to why he came along with him.
Arriving at the command centre of the base the elevator doors opened to hallway leading into an airlock door. And behind that door Shadow maintained a vacant expression knowing what was to come.
xXx
G.U.N Commander Abraham Towers stood amongst a room of monitors displaying security footage and data. Basked in the emerald green glow of the computer monitors even as he stood upon the enclosed room above the Command Center, holding his ever present grimace as his mind dwelled on the Space Colony ARK incident that had happened only few hours ago.
No matter how determined or hopeful the G.U.N Commander was about the people of the Earth human, anthro or otherwise he could never deny that this world was cruel. Why is it that good, heroic people like Maria, Sonic and his family all suddenly die and the vile twisted creatures like that of the Ultimate Life Form still live? It sickened him to the core knowing that the Black Hedgehog who was responsible for the deaths of so many innocents was being hailed as a hero by the public who were all too oblivious to the danger that Shadow presented to them.
If only they knew what happened that day aboard the ARK. The blaring alarms, the experiments running amok, causing chaos and destruction, the bloodshed.
A young Abraham Towers saw all of this at the young age of six, seeing it all happen in front of him, his mother killed by those Artificial Chaos creatures, his father destroyed alongside the Blue Falcon vehicle he was piloting And finally running towards Maria's lifeless corpse as something ejected from the Space Colony. Never will he forget holding her cold hands as she stared lifelessly to the floor, bleeding out from her abdomen, expressionless now that she had felt death's embrace.
And it was all Shadow's fault.
Abraham knew what he saw. That maniacal bastard Gerald conspiring with that thing, the Black Creature as it paved the way for the creation of that abomination Shadow The Hedgehog. Shadow should've been the one to die during the battle today, not Sonic.
But still he lived, and now he was coming to the Military base alongside Miles Prower.
Coming to his death.
xXx
The airlock seal on the door released and opened to reveal Tails and Shadow standing behind it. Grimacing slightly the G.U,N Commander turned to face the two Anthros, his finger primed on the trigger of his pistol gripped in his hands aimed directly at the black Hedgehog.
"SIR! RELAX HE'S ON OUR SIDE!" Tails exclaimed as he stepped in front of Shadow, shielding him from the bullet's trajectory. Reminding himself of what happened to Maria all those years ago Shadow decided that Tails couldn't suffer the same fate if the G.U.N Commander was angry enough to kill Tails just to obtain his revenge.
"Tails stand back, this isn't your fight, just leave the two of us be for a while. We have some things to sort out" Shadow spoke placing his hand on the young fox's shoulder before the G.U.N Commander requested Tails leave the room. God knows he didn't need to see another death on the same day his best friend died.
"You have no idea how much destruction you have caused to so many people, I'll be doing them a favour in destroying you Shadow" spat the G.U.N Commander shortly after the door was shut and sealed behind them so that no interruptions could be made to the two ARK survivors.
"I understand your hatred for me Abraham, but believe me when I say that Maria would never have wanted either of us to go down the path of revenge" Shadow stated melancholically hoping that the G.U.N Commander would listen to reason after being consumed by hate for so long.
"DON'T YOU EVER MENTION HER NAME AGAIN YOU MONSTER!" shouted the G.U.N Commander as he fired three shots form his pistol only for Shadow to quickly evade them with incredible speed. "HOLD STILL YOU DEVIL!" added the Commander only for Shadow to intercept the pistol's aim by grabbing the gun's barrel with a tight grip, pulling it away from the G.U.N Commander's hand.
"Stop, if we are to ever settle our differences we must settle them with words, not violence, And you and I both know that we've seen more than enough of that in our lives" Shadow spoke trying to maintain a civil discussion with no hint of anger in his voice.
"What's there to understand? Because of YOU I lost EVERYTHING I ever loved!" the G.U.N Commander snapped causing Shadow's expression to dim as he had to answer for his crimes while trying to make things better for the future.
"I know…" Shadow stated trailing off at the end, saddened that so much destruction had come from his creation.
Unexpectant of Shadow's answer the G.U.N Commander paused for a moment sure that the Hedgehog would desperately try to justify its existence to prove that it wasn't an evil creature that was hellbent on destruction.
"Then you know why you must be destroyed" stated the G.U.N Commander firmly albeit a little less secure in tone than he was previously. His thoughts were beginning to betray him, could Shadow possibly be as compassionate enough to seek atonement for his crimes?
"If that is what I must do to atone for my crimes against you and the victims aboard the ARK then so be it" Shadow said softly, "Only so long as it can disperse the anger and sorrow you feel on the inside" added the Black Hedgehog resulting in the G.U.N Commander to falter in his stone cold demeanor.
The two remained silent for a few moments, both unsure what to say to each other with only their solemn facial expressions being a sign of what the other was thinking, and as it turned out the two's thoughts were on the exact same thing. Or to be more precise, the same person. Maria.
"(Would she really want me to do this?… Even if it is Shadow?)" Thought the G.U.N Commander remembering the time Maria spent with Shadow unafraid of him despite a young Abraham telling her that Shadow was evil. She trusted Shadow without any hint of fear whereas he and everyone else aboard the ARK either stayed out of his way or only dealt with him under Gerald's orders.
Perhaps it was time to forgive, Shadow might have been conceived by that Black Creature but onboard the ARK he never once hurt anybody, him, Maria or otherwise. On the other hand the G.U.N Commander couldn't forget what happened during Dr Eggman's plan to take control of the ARK when Shadow aided the terrorist in his plot for world domination.
Had it not been for Sonic and Shadow's efforts the Black Hedgehog would most certainly be dead right now if Shadow never pulled such a heel faced turn.
"Listen Shadow, I don't exactly trust you yet but for now I will allow you to live" the G.U.N Commander stated firmly hoping that he was making the right decision in letting Shadow remain alive.
"But should you do anything to endanger this planet or its people again, I will hunt you down and be the one who puts a bullet in your head, do you understand?" warned the G.U.N Commander in a grave, serious tone that was not to be taken lightly.
Nodding in acknowledgement Shadow turned towards the exit and proceeded forward a few paces before saying his final words to the ageing G.U.N Commander.
"Then you must know that I'm going to do quite the opposite, I made a promise to Maria and to Sonic that I would protect the planet they loved so much" Shadow spoke before the airlock seal released and the door opened with Shadow walking out of the room.
"(We'll see Shadow… We'll see)" thought the G.U.N Commander somewhat ambivalent between skepticism and wanting to believe that Shadow had truly changed into a guardian of the Earth.
xXx
FIVE MONTHS LATER (Set One Week Before The Events of Sonic Heroes)
Angel Island was a peaceful and serene place. It's jungles were lush and verdant, the water was fresh and its fruits were nourishing. But it was on this Island that its guardian Knuckles The Echidna remained troubled in his thoughts. The Master Emerald remained safely on its altar which would give the impression that everything was in its place but Knuckles's mind was still troubled.
Though many times had the Echidna trained his mind and his body to focus only on his duty Sonic's death had a profound effect on the red Echidna, it was a strange feeling that one wouldn't normally feel with the death of an acquaintance. Knuckles and Sonic both knew that neither one of them were friends, but the two did help each other out when their goals coincided with each other.
The red Echidna knew that it wasn't depression or sorrow he felt, seeing the corpses of your parents and leaving you alone to guard a mystical gem for the rest of your life tends to leave one a little colder than most emotionally speaking.
No. What Knuckles felt was foreboding.
He knew that with Sonic's death it would soon trigger a change in the flow of events, like something was supposed to have happened but didn't and now the world could have quite possibly have been doomed because of it. Knuckles wondered if the remaking of the world was at hand. As if a dark power from a forgotten time was going to resurrect itself and cast judgement upon the world, reshaping it in his or her image.
Feeling a strange energy emit from beneath the steps of the altar to the Master Emerald Knuckles walked to the edge of the Altar and saw within the blazing energy field a pair of red piercing eyes digging themselves into his soul.
"It's already begun" Knuckles said, preparing for battle as he saw the metallic creature emerge from the energy field.
xXx
Amy Rose had sunken into a deep depression after Sonic's heart was crushed knowing that everything she did was nothing but wasted time in the pursuit of her hero.
Amy always knew that Sonic would never love her in the way that she loved him but she pursued him anyway because she always knew that he would be around to save the world. She supposed that the truth of it all was she admired everything that Sonic stood for.
He stood for freedom, for peace and for speed. Amy loved that he was unbounded by the things most people dream of like love. Sonic's freedom gave him strength. But it was the divide between the domestic and the unlimited that Amy knew would always keep Sonic apart from her. She was frightened. Whenever she went on Adventures with Sonic and Tails while Sonic loved the thrill of the chase. No matter what Dr Eggman threw at him he always took it in stride and was victorious every time. Amy just wasn't strong enough.
And that was why she ended up here.
In the ruined city of Station Square. Though relief efforts had done much aid to the damages, everyone who survived Perfect Chaos's attack knew that this city would never return to its former glory again. Families who had lost their lives, people homeless and without shelter, the streets paved with the remnants of destruction. But worst of all… The rain.
It always rained. after the attack it seemed like Chaos's dark cloud always hung over the city and its people. Why did such a disaster have to happen to these people? these innocent people who lost so much so quickly.
Because one fat scientist just couldn't have been satisfied unless he got his way.
Dr Ivo 'Eggman' Robotnik, the very name of the good Doctor had the Pink Hedgehog embittered for what he had done. Whether direct or indirect it seemed that whenever something bad happened it was either because Dr Eggman was behind it, or because he had triggered something he should never have tampered with to begin with.
Anger washed over the pink Hedgehog like the rain that was showering her as she stood facing the wall of a destroyed building, the water soaking over her quills, uncaring that her dress stuck to her skin nor if she were to catch her death out in the sickening rain that was stuck in a permanent downpour.
Sonic wasn't here anymore. She no longer had a purpose in life. So instead she found a new one.
Because it was in this dark place where she stared into the abyss only for her dark soul to stare right back at her.
Sonic wasn't a part of her life anymore.
And so to Amy his rules and way of life no longer applied.
When she found Dr Eggman Amy made a promise to herself.
When she found him…
she was going to kill him.
xXx
Construction of his new E-Series Robot E123 OMEGA had been completed. Armed with the most advanced weaponry and targeting computers this robot could become the most destructive android known to mankind. And unlike the defector E-102 GAMMA its mind responded only to Dr Eggman. All that remained was to program it to only follow orders of destruction.
But even in the completion of his latest creation Dr Eggman felt empty.
He just simply didn't care anymore.
What was the point in conquering the world when his Grandfather, his HERO, wanted to destroy the planet. Had Gerald not even considered the ramifications of his actions had he succeeded? his children on Earth would have died too. Ivo knew he had always been closer to Maria than he was to him but Ivo knew that his Grandfather never played favourites.
Gerald was a good man.
But it was not since Ivo had learned he had died because of an 'accident' that he ever felt so destroyed on the inside. It was only when he learned the truth that he became who he was today.
Using the knowledge of robotics and computers to hack into the G.U.N Database to uncover the truth behind his Grandfather's death. When Ivo uncovered the fact that it was his own government that betrayed and executed his Grandfather for trying to create a weapon that THEY asked of him to create had the young Ivo become truly apathetic.
Losing all feeling to the world around him, disconnecting from world and seeking only revenge against G.U.N for what they did to his family after Gerald's death, replacing their civilization with his own Eggmanland.
That was when Sonic entered the picture.
Though the good Doctor would never admit it there was a certain thrill to Sonic's interference that Eggman could only feel when facing his arch nemesis. A mutual feeling that both the Hedgehog and human understood on a subconscious level. But now that balance was gone, and in its place non-existence.
It was now when Eggman understood that one could not live without the other.
And so it was without this balance that Eggman made the decision to shelve the E-Series Robots. E123 OMEGA would be his final creation, and one that would ultimately go unused. It was time for this Scientist to disappear…
That is until he heard a communication signal from one of his Eggpawns.
"Dr Eggman sir, we have recovered something that you might find most interesting" droned the Eggpawn over the Comm channel. With Mild curiosity Eggman replied.
"Bring it to the base on the outskirts of Seaside Hill" Eggman commanded before cutting the comm link between him and the Eggpawn.
xXx
In the heat of battle Knuckles continued to face an enemy he had never seen before, a robot that resembled Sonic The Hedgehog was fighting him for the Master Emerald. This robot looked battle damaged, as if it was barely holding together.
But looks can be deceiving.
This Metal Sonic hit hard and it hit fast. Even if it's back thruster was damaged the burst of speed did well to aid in it's swift attacks. Knuckles went for a defensive stance upon realising that if he timed it right he could counter attack with an uppercut. But Metal Sonic much like his flesh and blood counterpart was unpredictable. Though it had never faced Knuckles in combat before it seemed to adapt quickly to his fighting style.
Changing up his tactics Knuckles decided that if he could strike the broken pieces of the robot's chassis he might be able to dish out some fatal damage so that the Metal Sonic would be destroyed. Swinging his fists towards the robot's body Knuckle's struck the core of Metal Sonic which had the robot in a stumble for a moment which Knuckles used strike the head, arm and upper torso with a series of powerful punches before finishing the robot off by kicking at the legs and forcefully punching his knuckles through the torso of the Metal Sonic.
Metal Sonic tried and failed to rise up only for the left arm that rose to fall limply to the ground as it realised that it was no use.
But Knuckles biggest mistake was underestimating his opponent, walking away when the battle was clearly not over yet. Much like the robot's carbon based predecessor the Metallic creature never gave up. It's red optics changing into three circles around it's iris, scanning the Master Emerald.
It was only when the Metal Sonic spoke that Knuckles realised the mistake he made.
"*LIQUID CHAOS DATA… SUCCESSFULLY COPIED*"
Before the Red Echidna's eyes Knuckles saw as the Metal Sonic turn to a state of liquid metal, dissolving into the floor, leaving the guardian of the Master Emerald alone on the Island considering that it got what it came for.
"That robot's probably one of Dr Eggman's" Knuckles said to himself as he gathered his thoughts on what he saw before him.
"I hate to leave the Master Emerald unguarded for too long but I've gotta warn Tails about this and see what he can make of this" Knuckles stated as he made his way towards his workshop, hoping that he could find a way to stop that robot before things got out of hand.